"I think that the idea of keeping 3.5 million Palestinians under occupation is the worst thing..," Sharon

JENIN, West Bank, May 27 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Israeli army staged a raid Tuesday, May 27, with tanks and other armored vehicles into the West Bank city and refugee camp of Jenin, as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon signaled he is serious about reaching a peace deal with the Palestinians with an end to the long-standing occupation.

Exchanges of fire and an explosion were heard in Jenin and the refugee camp, which were placed under a curfew by the Israeli forces, Palestinian sources told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The fire trade left one Israeli soldier wounded, and he was rushed to an Israeli hospital, according to Al-Jazeera.

Israeli forces killed on Monday, May 26, two Palestinians, including an 11-year-old boy, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, raising the death toll of Palestinians to 2,462 since the September 11 Intifada against Israeli occupation.

This came as Israeli officials said that U.S. President George W. Bush is expected to meet Sharon and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmud Abbas in Aqaba, Jordan, on Wednesday or Thursday next week.

Jordan's King Abdullah II would also attend the meeting, the official said, adding that Bush could go on to Egypt for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak "and other Arab leaders".

The official said the aim was to secure general Arab support for the peace plan known as the "roadmap", which aims at a Palestinian state by 2005.

Israeli officials Monday ruled out the three-way meeting will be held in Egypt, given, the latter’s “hostile position” towards Israel.

The diplomatic push follows Sunday's decision by the Israeli cabinet to accept the “roadmap” and its goal of creating a viable Palestinian state - the first time an Israeli government has ever accepted such a plan, albeit with reservations. The plan has been approved by the Palestinian cabinet unconditionally.

Signals

In another related development, the Israeli Prime Minister signaled that he is serious about ending tension with the Palestinians and willing to withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza- unusually for him describing Israel's military presence in the Palestinian territories as an "occupation".

"I think that the idea of keeping 3.5 million Palestinians under occupation is the worst thing for Israel, for the Palestinians and also for the Israeli economy," the website of Israeli daily Maariv quoted him as saying.

Sharon faced fierce criticism from within his own Likud party on Monday - with 11 ministers and deputies making blistering attacks on the international “ roadmap”, Israeli army radio reported.

He is also challenged by leaders of the 226,000 Jewish settlers of the West Bank and Gaza Strip who vowed to thwart evacuation of their homes, which they said would end their dream of a biblical state from the Jordan to the sea.

“This decision (to approve the roadmap) is even worse than Oslo," Pinchas Wallerstein, a former chairman of the settlers' council told the Independent.

"It is the first time an Israeli government has recognized another state west of the Jordan. We'll make every effort to change it," he added.

Some of Sharon's critics have expressed doubt over his comments, saying that his newfound willingness to compromise is merely a political maneuver as he does not expect it to be put to the test, according to the BBC News Online.

Israeli officials said Sharon would hold a meeting on Tuesday morning with government ministries and security forces to discuss Israel's stand during the expected Middle East summit.

Shooting At European Diplomat

In the meanwhile, Israeli soldiers on Monday opened fire on a Swiss diplomat's car as it crossed a checkpoint in the Gaza strip, the Swiss foreign ministry said in a statement.

The Swiss envoy to the Palestinian Authority and a colleague were traveling in a clearly-marked diplomatic armored car when they were stopped by soldiers at the Erez checkpoint who then opened fire on their vehicle, it said.

Neither diplomat was injured in the incident, the statement said.

The two were detained for an hour at the checkpoint until Swiss authorities obtained their release, it added. Swiss authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and say they intend to demand an explanation from Israel.

Israeli forces had earlier opened fire on a British diplomatic convoy during their visit to a Palestinian spot where a British peace activist was shot dead by Israeli gunfire. The incident took place despite the Israeli Army being given notice of the journey on at least three occasions – the last minutes before the convoy arrived.